This report is a review of a team effort that focuses on advanced aerospace concepts of the 21st Century. The paper emphasis advanced technologies, rather than cataloging every unusual aircraft that has ever been attempted. To dispel the myth that "aerodynamics is a mature science" an extensive list of "What we cannot do, or do not know" was enumerated. A zeit geist, a feeling for the spirit of the times, was developed, based on existing research goals. Technological drivers and the constraints that might influence these technological developments in a future society were also examined. The present status of aeronautics, space exploration, and non-aerospace applications, both military and commercial, including enabling technologies are discussed. A discussion of non-technological issues affecting advanced concepts research is presented. The benefit of using the study of advanced vehicles as a tool to uncover new directions for technology development is often necessary. An appendix is provided containing examples of advanced vehicle configurations currently of interest.Jones, Gregory S. and Bangert, Linda S. and Garber, Donald P. and Huebner, Lawrence D. and McKinley, Robert E. and Sutton, Kenneth and Swanson, Roy C., Jr. and Weinstein, LeonardLangley Research CenterAEROSPACE ENGINEERING; MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH; AIRCRAFT DESIGN; AERODYNAMICS; COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT; MILITARY AIRCRAFT; HYPERSONIC FLIGHT; MANEUVERABILITY; SUPERSONIC COMBUSTION RAMJET ENGINES; AEROACOUSTICS; AEROTHERMODYNAMICS; COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMICS; CONTROL EQUIPMENT; PROPULSION; SEPARATED FLOW; BOUNDARY LAYER SEPARATION

This book discusses polymeric and composite materials for aerospace industries and discusses some general qualities of aviation materials, e.g., strength, density, malleability, ductility, elasticity, toughness, brittleness, fusibility, conductivity, and thermal expansion. Metals and alloys have so far been best able to utilize their qualities almost to the maximum. The latest advancements in polymers and composites have opened up a new area of conjecture about how to modify airplanes and shuttles to be more polymeric and less metallic. Polymeric materials have been the focus of exploration due to their high strength-to-weight ratio, low cost, and a greater degree of freedom in strengthening the needed qualities. Strength, density, malleability, ductility, elasticity, toughness, brittleness, fusibility, conductivity, and thermal expansion are some of the general qualities of aviation materials that are taken into account. Aerospace Polymeric Materials discusses a wide range of methods with an outline of polymeric and composite materials for aerospace applications. Among the range of topics discussed are aerogel properties; polymeric welding; polymeric reinforcement, their properties, and manufacturing; conducting polymer composites; electroactive polymeric composites; and polymer nanocomposite dielectrics. In addition, a summary of self-healing materials is also presented, including their significance, manufacturing methods, properties, and applications. Audience This is a useful guide for engineers, materials scientists, researchers, and postgraduate students from industry, academia, and laboratories that are linked to polymeric composites.

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